What began as jubilant celebrations across Manhattan quickly spiraled into widespread violence, with the NYPD reporting 63 arrests overnight into Sunday morning as crowds turned destructive in Midtown and Times Square.
Large crowds of tens of thousands of unruly fans and rioters gathered north of Madison Square Garden between Fifth and Ninth Avenues as the game concluded and after the final buzzer.
According to the NYPD, the groups refused to disperse, blocked major streets and avenues for hours, climbed light poles, traffic lights, scaffolding, and vehicles, lit fireworks in dense crowds, engaged in physical fights, and hurled bottles and other objects at police.
Much of the violence and chaos was captured on camera by independent journalist Nick Sortor, who was posting clips to X in real time.
🚨 BREAKING: MAYHEM in Times Square as THOUSANDS of rioters TAKEOVER SCHOOL BUSES
Most drivers have ABANDONED the buses, and rioters are in the drivers seats
NO POLICE ARE ANYWHERE IN SIGHT!pic.twitter.com/HNZFzBvyEv
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor)June 14, 2026
The riots tonight left Times Square looking like a total WARZONE.
Millions of dollars in property damage.
Source: Cassandra MacDonald, Author at The Gateway Pundit
